By: Genalyn D. Kabiling
President Duterte has a lone billionaire and several multimillionaires in his Cabinet.
According to the 2016 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of 28 Cabinet members released by Malacañang, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar is the richest Cabinet official with a net worth of P1.409 billion, making him the lone billionaire in the President’s official family.
The son of former Senate President Manuel B. Villar Jr. and Sen. Cynthia A. Villar who is married to party list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay declared seven real estate properties worth P134 million and personal properties amounting P1.288 billion and liabilities reaching P14.5 million.
The “poorest” Cabinet member is Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano with a net worth of P273,629. His wealth is mostly in cash amounting P228,629 and had no real estate property listed in his SALN.
The information was culled from the partial list of SALNs of Cabinet members released by Malacañang yesterday. Most of the Cabinet officials are richer than President Duterte who had a net worth of P27.4 million as of 2016.
The documents came more than two months after a freedom of information request was filed by the Palace media.
A far second from Villar is Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez who has a net worth of P351.859 million. Dominguez, a former businessman, has nine real estate properties worth P57 million and personal properties worth P351 million. He had no liabilities.
The third richest Cabinet member is Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima with a net worth of P304.961 million. He cited one house and lot worth P64 million. His personal properties, including cash, stocks, and cars, reached P240 million.
Fourth is Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade whose fortune is pegged at P301.999 million. Most of his assets are cash, antiques, jewelry, and shares of stocks. He had no liability.
Former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez is the fifth richest Cabinet member with P266 million.
Her nine real estate properties were valued at P189 million while personal properties reached P136 million.
Rounding up the Top 10 wealthiest Cabinet members are Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi (P162 million), Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (P152 million), Socio-Economic planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia (P105 million), Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano (P54 million), and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (P50.5 million).
Also richer than the President are Tourism Wanda Teo (P44 million), presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza (P40 million), and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre (P37 million).
Cabinet members slightly poorer than Duterte are Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (P25 million), National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon (P22 million), Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno (P19 million), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency head Alex Monteaguado (P16 million), Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (P15 million), acting Interior and Local Government Secretary Catalino Cuy (P14.7 million), and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos head Yasmin Lao (P13 million).
The other Cabinet members’ wealth based on the 2016 SALN are acting Presidential Management Staff head Ferdinand Cui (P7.9 million), Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato deal Peña (P7.4 million), Education Secretary Leonor Briones (P4.3 million), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (P3.6 million), Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo (P1.9 million), and Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial (P1.1 million).
The other non-millionaire Cabinet member is National Anti-Poverty Commission Liza Maza (P730,716).